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Jon Damush CEOThe AI system of Iris Automation helps classify the specific types of movers in the air route, such as a helicopter or a twin-engine plane. Further, it can calculate the distance from the target based on the geometry of the cameras. Damush remarks, “We can integrate our systems into unpiloted aircrafts of any size to detect and avoid collision with other aircrafts.”
Iris Automation rightly comprehends the acronym DAA as Detection, Alert, and Avoid, and not just Detect and Avoid as many competitors do. For the detection part, which Damush considers to be the company’s primary focus, Iris Automation uses cameras, AI algorithms, and sensor systems that detect and classify objects as far, accurate, and fast as possible. In the case of alert and avoid, some in-depth knowledge of the aircraft systems and how the end-user plans to operate the aircraft remains crucial. Hence, Iris Automation addresses these parts of the challenge in collaboration with the customers and understanding their needs, as each of them would use different aircraft for their mission. To perform the alert and avoid functions seamlessly, the company has built a product, Casia, that integrates with autopilots and other onboard technologies.
Ours is the first-ever AI application that works in the real world on an aircraft during flight that’s getting bounced around in the air because of turbulence and wind
Damush remarks that many competitors of Iris Automation struggle to satisfy regulators regarding safe flight without any mid-air collisions and procure a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight approval. On the other hand, Iris Automation builds large scale commercial BVLOS operations by working with two types of customers – aircraft manufacturers and operators. In the case of aircraft manufacturers, who are building new types of unpiloted systems, the company collaborates in their design cycle and integrates the computer vision into the aircraft. When it comes to the operators, the company enables them to meet the requirement for safe operation. Damush notes, “The presence of our system enables them to represent a higher order safety case, as our system is a fundamental safety element in the air risk part of the equation.”
Having proven that the technology works in the real world, Iris Automation invests heavily in product development. The company has further plans to increase the system’s range and train the AI to steadily add new types of objects to detect, track, and classify properly. It is also looking to miniaturize the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), as anything that goes into the design of an airplane that needs SWaP takes it away from the payload that is the purpose of the flight. Iris Automation has also got plans for the following year to improve capabilities as per customers’ needs.
VOTIX Partners with Iris Automation to Bring Comprehensive Drone Management for Safe BVLOS Operations
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
WESTON, Fla. and RENO - Drone automation technology leader, VOTIX, is excited to join forces with safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation. The partnership enables safe BVLOS flights through the seamless integration of Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based detect and alert system into the VOTIX cloud-based drone operating system.
This integration makes remote operations a reality for enterprises that need effective and flexible drone BVLOS deployments, from routine automated inspections of critical infrastructure to rapid mobilization seen in Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs.
This hardware-software solution will feed data from the Casia G system into the VOTIX platform to provide a complete picture of the operational airspace in real-time. A key requirement to obtaining BVLOS regulatory approvals is the ability to detect non-cooperative aircraft at distance. The Casia G system fulfills this by monitoring the airspace and providing precise location and classification data of intruder aircraft, enabling automated conflict resolution via the VOTIX platform. This brings a new level of safety and mission capability to customers looking to expand their operations at scale.
VOTIX, with its pioneering "Drone Orchestration" approach, integrates all processes and systems required for a BVLOS operation. Its drone-agnostic solution enables and tracks effective C2 and live video stream, including use of cellular connectivity, integrates Casia G for Detect-and-Avoid technology, automates conflict resolution, integrates weather tracking and traffic management, controls operational limitations, automates fail-safe measures to increase safety, performs autonomous flights, enables precision landing and drone-in-a-box integration.
Casia G creates a stationary perimeter of sanitized, monitored airspace without the need to add additional sensors or payload to the drone. Using patented computer vision technology, Casia G alerts the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) if a risk of collision is present and allows the drone to maneuver to safe zones. This eliminates the need for the pilot to maintain visual contact with the drone or to have Visual Observers (VOs) in place to monitor the skies.
Quote from VOTIX CEO, Ed Boucas
"Our mission is to make BVLOS easy. We have integrated every aspect of drone operation in a single pane of glass so pilots can easily perform safe and secure BVLOS flights."
A good example is the drone inspection provider AviSight which, using VOTIX platform, obtained two ground-breaking waivers for recurrent BVLOS inspections over several miles of Shell pipelines in the U.S. The FAA approved the first waiver in just nine days of receiving the application with VOTIX reports.
Quote from Iris Automation VP of Product, Jason Hardy-Smith
"To safely advance unpiloted operations, technology companies across our industry need to collaboratively deliver their innovative technologies in seamless solutions that are easy for customers to consume. Our partnership with VOTIX is a terrific example of that, delivering a complete platform for RPICs to safely and efficiently execute their missions."
In December, Iris Automation received a third FAA BVLOS waiver without the need for VOs based on a network of two separate Casia G nodes. Connecting additional nodes can significantly extend the UAS operational area while still giving customers the flexibility to move their operations to a different location quickly if needed.
Company
Iris Automation
Management
Jon Damush CEO
Description
As many organizations struggle to get a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight approval, for they could not satisfy their regulator safely without any mid-air collisions, Iris Automation enables its customers to build scalable BVLOS operations. To bring these large scale commercial operations in BVLOS into practice, the company works with two types of customer – aircraft manufacturers and operators
